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Nutrition and daily life

Pear — fruit card: juicy and soft

Even the armudu tea glass is named after this fruit. A ripe pear is soft, juicy and easy to swallow. This card explains how to choose and eat pears during treatment.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Golden pears and an armudu glass on a dark board.
Figure 1.A pear and an armudu glass.

01Short answer

The pear is a soft fruit with fibre, water and a little vitamin C. A ripe pear can be comfortable with mouth sores or swallowing difficulty. The skin has more fibre, but during neutropenia wash and peel pears. Pears loosen the gut: they may help constipation and worsen diarrhoea. Cooked pear is gentler.

02Simple explanation

Pears are soft and juicy.

Comfortable with mouth sores.

May help constipation.

Peel during neutropenia.

03Scientific explanation

Sorbitol and fructose: these sugars in pears draw water into the gut, so they may help constipation and worsen diarrhoea.

WHO: at least 400 g of fruit and vegetables a day is recommended; during treatment the amount may vary with appetite and your doctor’s advice.

FDA: wash produce under running water before cutting or peeling, because a knife can carry germs from the skin into the flesh.

04What happens in the body?

Ripeness

If the neck near the stem gives slightly when pressed, the pear is ripe.

A ripe pear in soft light.
Figure 2.Softness near the stem means ripe.

Poached pear

Poach peeled pear in lightly sweetened water for a soft dessert.

Peeled pear halves poaching in a pan.
Figure 3.Poached pear, a soft dessert.

Washing and peeling

Wash your hands, rub the fruit under running water, dry it with a clean towel, then peel or cut it. Soap or bleach solutions are not needed.

Cut fruit

Keep cut fruit in the fridge and eat it within 1 day; do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

05Fruit: four steps

Whole fruit, swap bruised, wash and peel, eat cut fruit soon.

Whole fruit — No spots.1Whole fruitNo spots.
Not bruised — Fresh and whole.2Not bruisedFresh and whole.
Wash and peel — Running water.3Wash and peelRunning water.
Eat soon — Fridge, 1 day.4Eat soonFridge, 1 day.
VitaminsA natural source.
FibreFor the gut.
SafetyWashing.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
RipenessIf the neck near the stem gives slightly when pressed, the pear is ripe.
Poached pearPoach peeled pear in lightly sweetened water for a soft dessert.
Washing and peelingWash your hands, rub the fruit under running water, dry it with a clean towel, then peel or cut it. Soap or bleach solutions are not needed.
Cut fruitKeep cut fruit in the fridge and eat it within 1 day; do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

07Key terms

Sorbitol
A sugar alcohol that draws water into the gut.
Constipation
Difficulty passing stools.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils, raising infection risk.
Potassium
A mineral for the heart and muscles.
Fibre
The part of plants that helps the gut work.

08Key points

  • Pears are soft.
  • They may help constipation.
  • Eat less with diarrhoea.
  • Wash under running water.
  • Eat cut fruit soon.

09Frequently asked questions

Can I eat pear with diarrhoea?

A little, peeled and cooked; raw pear can worsen diarrhoea.

Is pear compote fine?

Yes, boiled compote.

Does this fruit treat leukemia?

No. It is a pleasant part of eating, not a treatment.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Can I eat pear with diarrhoea?

  2. Is pear compote fine?

  3. Does this fruit treat leukemia?

My questions

12Sources

  1. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Diet Guidelines for Immunosuppressed Patients
  2. U.S. FDA. Selecting and Serving Produce Safely
  3. NHS. 5 A Day: what counts?
  4. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  5. USDA. FoodData Central
  6. World Health Organization (WHO). Food safety — fact sheet
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preventing Listeria Infection
  8. FoodSafety.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature
  9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
  10. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2008. Randomized Comparison of Cooked and Noncooked Diets in Patients Undergoing Remission Induction Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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